ML15036A468

Webinar Meeting to Discuss the Decommissioning Process for Nuclear Power Reactors and How It Relates to Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station - Slide Presentation

ML15036A468
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	02/05/2015
From:	Division of Nuclear Materials Safety I
To:
Sheehan N
References
Download: ML15036A468 (27)

Text

2015 1

Todays Presenters Bruce Watson Marc Ferdas 2

Vermont Yankee History Dec. 11, 1967 - Construction Permit issued March 21, 1972 - Operating License issued Nov. 30, 1972 - Commercial operations commence March 21, 2012 - End of initial 40-year Operating License period 3

Major Shutdown Milestones @

Vermont Yankee Aug. 27, 2013 -- Entergy announces plan to permanently shut down Vermont Yankee Sept. 23, 2013 -- Entergy provides notification of plans to permanently cease operations at Vermont Yankee Dec. 29, 2014 -- Vermont Yankee is permanently shut down Jan. 12, 2015 - Entergy completes the transfer of all fuel in the Vermont Yankee reactor vessel to its spent fuel pool 4

Near-term Developments Certification of permanent cessation of Review of Post-operations Shutdown Decommissioning Certification of Activities Report permanent (PSDAR) removal of fuel from reactor 5

Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR)

It should contain:

Description of planned decommissioning activities High-level schedule of planned decommissioning activities Site-specific cost estimate for the decommissioning Environmental impacts of decommissioning Where to find it:

http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/vy.html 6

PSDAR Review Process NRC notices receipt of the PSDAR in the Federal Register and requests public comments NRC schedules a public meeting to discuss PSDAR &

solicit public comments NRC considers public comments Plant owner may begin decommissioning work 90 days after NRC receives the PSDAR 7

Reactor Decommissioning The process of removing a reactor facility safely from the operating mode to a permanent shutdown condition and reducing the residual radioactivity to a level that permits the release of the property for unrestricted use and termination of the license BEFORE AFTER Maine Yankee 8

Decommissioning Options DECON - Equipment, structures, etc., are removed or decontaminated to a level that permits unrestricted release SAFSTOR - Plant is placed in a safe, stable condition and maintained in this state until it is subsequently decontaminated to levels that permit unrestricted release ENTOMB - Encasing of key reactor structures 9

How Long to Decommission?

Under NRC regulations, the process must be completed within 60 years.

10

Guiding Principles of Decommissioning Protection of plant &

workers Protection of the public Communications &

outreach with external stakeholders 11

Decommissioning Process - Phases Before Cleanup During Cleanup After Cleanup 12

Ready the plant for decommissioning Move spent nuclear fuel to dry cask storage Submit & update PSDAR 13

Removal of structures & components Soil remediation Radioactive waste shipments 14

Site restoration NRC license termination Spent fuel management 15

Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Schedule & Cost Summary 16

Power Reactors in Decommissioning 5 units in active decommissioning 14 units in SAFSTOR VERMONT YANKEE has selected the SAFSTOR option 17

Oversight Program After Shutdown Oversight and monitoring conducted over the entire period of decommissioning process Oversight program is described in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2561 & 2690 18

Oversight Program After Shutdown Decommissioning inspection program includes both core and discretionary inspections Implementation depends on activities being planned or performed.

Post-Operation Transition Phase Actively Decommissioning - Fuel in Spent Fuel Pool Actively Decommissioning - No Fuel in Spent Fuel Pool SAFSTOR - Fuel in Spent Fuel Pool SAFSTOR - No Fuel in Spent Fuel Pool Final Surveys Under way 19

What Happens to the Spent Fuel?

Removed from spent fuel pool Stored on-site in dry cask storage systems Safety and security programs remain until fuel removed from site 20

Is the Spent Fuel Pool Safe?

Robust structures Designed to withstand severe natural events Regulated design features &

operational practices implemented to maintain fuel in safe condition 21

How Does Emergency Planning Change?

Emergency preparedness remains All hazards approach utilized vs. formal pre-planned off-site radiological response plans 22

How will plant security change?

Security controls remain in-place until spent fuel is removed from the site 23

Public Involvement on Decommissioning Public meeting to discuss the decommissioning process and the plants PSDAR NRC staff typically provide briefings at meetings of state/citizen decommissioning advisory panels Public meeting on License Termination Plan 24

NRC References 25

Links for NRC References IMC 2561: Decommissioning Power Reactor Inspection Program RG 1. 184: Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors NUREG 1628: Staff Responses to FAQs Concerning Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors NRC Backgrounder: Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants NRC YouTube Video on Decommissioning 26

Questions Neil.Sheehan@NRC.GOV or 610-337-5331 27